'Upstream Color': Another mind-blowing flick?

In 2004 a little film called Primer caught the attention of critics and sci-fi lovers alike. Written and directed by newcomer Shane Carruth and made for just $7,000, the plot involves friends who build a time machine. While that sounds fascinating in itself, Carruth's complex storytelling helped make it a cult hit.

This month the director returns with another head-scratcher, Upstream Color. Though I've been reading reviews obsessively, I still can't figure out the story. One synopsis says this:

"After a vicious robbery, a man and woman are drawn together, unknowingly entangled in the lifecycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to find a place of safety and to create something from the loose fragments of their wrecked lives."

So far the response has been very positive, though many critics conclude something to the effect of "I have no idea what it was about, and I can't wait to see it again." (That's a direct quote from this guy. Says New York's David Edelstein: "I've seen Upstream Color twice and liked it enormously while never being certain of anything.")

The trailer is beautiful, if puzzling:

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I can understand why some moviegoers might be hesitant to see such a non-linear film. Then again, considering what's in theaters right now, thank goodness such an experimental work is receiving so much attention. As Edelstein reminds us, "If you could diagram a thing into words, why make a movie about it?"

Upstream Color is getting a pretty wide release and expands to several cities today (including Miami, San Diego, Louisville, Tulsa and Providence). It will be available to purchase May 7.

Head to the official site to learn more, watch some clips and try to piece the whole thing together. The score is also streaming, if you'd like your Friday to feel a little dreamier: